Hand counter



A. VAN VEEN Dec. 31, 1957 HAND COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8,1954 F'IGJ FIG-2 INVENTOR ANTON VAN VEEN M A'T'TOR EY A. VAN VEEN Dec.31, 1957 HAND COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1954 3 Flrlllld.lzrllllllllrfla 5 INVENh'QR ANTON VANJVEEN AT TOR EY United StatesPatent HAND COUNTER Anton Van Veen, Canton, Conn.

Application October 8, 1954, Serial No. 461,209

8 Claims. (Cl. 235-417) This invention relates to a tally or counter andmore particularly to a manually operated counter adapted to count or addby digits and by multiples of digits.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a manually operatedcounter of the deep groove digit wheel type having operating levers toindex the wheels, one of the levers serving to control the indexingmovements of thewheels in the conventional manner while one or morelevers, associated with the first lever, may be operated to addmultiples of digits.

A'feature of importance of the invention that enables the above objectto be accomplished is that two or more separate indexing levers for thedigit wheels are provided so mounted that one lever when depressed willindex all digit wheels as required in a conventional counter butthesecond lever or other levers may be depressed with out operating thefirst or preceding levers so that some only of the digit wheels will beindexed, so that additions to a previous total of tens, hundreds, etc.may be made by depressing one lever. In the operation of hand countersit is usual for the digit wheels to be operated step by step, the unitdigit wheel being indexed each time the operating lever is depressed oractuated and the tens, hundreds, etc. digit wheels are indexed only witheach complete rotation of its preceding digit wheel. The presentinvention, however, permits the tens, hundreds or other digit wheels tobe indexed independently of their preceding wheel or wheels. When one ofthese tens, hundreds or other digit wheels is indexed, the wheels forhigher multiples are indexed when the digit wheel of lower denominationcompletes a rotation. In this manner additions may be made to any totalsetting of the digit wheels by tens, hundreds, etc.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may include thefeatures of construction and operation set forth in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

' In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of thisspecification, I have shown the invention in a four digit manual counterbut it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodiedand that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specificationbeing relied upon for that purpose.

- In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective-view of a counter made in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the counter shown in Fig. l,the section being taken just below the casing to show the digit wheelsand portions of their indexing'means;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views of the digit wheeloperating mechanism in successive operative positions, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the wheel. engaging levers foreach of the digit wheels.

In the above mentioned drawings attached hereto and forming a partofthis specification there has been shown Patented Dec. 31, 1957 but oneembodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is tobe understood that changes and modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include thefollowing principal parts: First, a casing within which are rotatablymounted on a common axis a series of digit wheels there being four ofthe wheels shown in the illustrated embodiment; second, manuallyoperated levers pivotally mounted, one for each digit wheel; third, aframe member pivotally mounted for angular movement about the axis ofthe digit wheels; fourth, indexing levers carried by said frame andmovable against the pressure of individual light springs into engagementwith the notched peripheries of said digit wheels; fifth, lateralprojections on said indexing levers each overlapping the indexing leverfor the adjacent digit wheel of higher denomination; and a projection oneach of said indexing levers, said projections being of successivelyincreasing length and adapted for engaging within the notches formed inthe digit wheels.

Referring more in particular to the figures of the drawing and first toFigures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the counter includes a casing 10within which are rotatably mounted, preferably and as shown on a commonlongitudinal axis 8, four digit wheels 12 each having digits from 0 to"9 on its periphery. Also formed on the periphery of each wheel arenotches 14, one for each digit, and one notch on each wheel beingsubstantially deeper than the others. As the operation of manualcounters by a lever having projections of varying lengths engagingnotches in the digit wheels is well-known and is shown in my Patent No.2,572,784, granted October 23, 1951, further description of the wheelsand their indexing movements is not thought to be necessary. By theconstruction shown in my above referred to patent, the counter may beutilized to count by single digits only, the unit wheel being advancedone digit by each downward movement or" the cover forming the actuatorand the successive wheels being indexed one digit each time itsimmediately preceding digit wheel completes a full rotation.

In order to permit counting by tens, hundreds or other multiples of ten,the operating lever engaging the wheels is made in two or more generallysimilar parts. These operating levers 16, 18, 20 and 22 as shown in thedrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment comprise four separatelevers each pivotally mounted for oscillation about a single axis 24 forswinging movement so that their free ends respectively may enter thenotches 14 provided in the peripheries of the wheels 12. Each of thelevers 16, 18 and 20 is provided with a lateral projection 26overlapping the lever for the adjacent wheel 12 of higher denomination.By this means, when the lever 16 for the unit digit wheel 12 is operatedall levers 16, 18, 2'3 and 22 will move toward their respective wheels12 and the counter operates in the conventional manner as if there wasbut one lever. If, however, the lever 18 for the tens digit Wheel 12 isoperated the units lever 16 remains inoperative and out of engagement ofits notch but the tens, hundreds, etc. levers 18, 20 and 22 are movedtoward their respective wheels. Similarly, if the hundreds lever 20 isoperated the hundreds wheel 12 will be indexed one notch and thethousands wheel and any other higher denomination wheels will be indexed18, 20 or 22 and all actuators 28 are mounted for depressing movementabout a common axis 29.

The first effect of movement downward of any manual actuator 28. is toswing'its wheel engaging lever 16, 13, 20 or 22., toward the notches ofits wheel. This movement: of the wheel engaging lever will also swingthe wheel, engaging levers for the wheels of higher denomination due tothe overlaps 26. With this lever or with the several levers moved by theactuator to their notch engaging positions theframe 30 on which theselevers are pivotally mounted will be swung by further downward movementof the actuator to effect the wheel indexing movement.

As shown in Fig. 6 the overlaps 26 are shown as small rectangular platesattached as by brazing to one lever and individually overlapping thefree ends of levers for the adjacent wheel of higher denomination. Eachlever 16 to 22 isprovided with a notch entering portion or pointedprojection 25. These projections as shown in Fig. 7 are of successivebvarying length, the projection 25 on the lever 16 for the units digitwheel 12 being the longest.

The swinging frame 30 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is mounted foroscillating movement about the axis of the digit wheels 12 and isnormally held in its upper position by a suitable spring 32 of thehelically coiled type. Pivotally mounted on a common axis near the freeend of the frame 30 are the wheel operating levers 16, 18, 20 and 22,each lever being positioned to engage the notches in the periphery ofits digit wheel when oscillated by its actuator 28. Depressing the framemember 30 with one ormore of the levers 16 to 22 in notch engagingposition by an actuator 28 indexes the digit wheels 12 in the usualmanner.

Each. of the digit wheels 12 has a spring detent 34 in the form of aresilient wire or strip bearing against the notched portion of the wheelperiphery. By means of these springs 34 a slight amount of friction isapplied to the wheels 12 to prevent accidental rotation or overrun.Similarly individual bent wire springs 36 resiliently retain the levers16, 18, 20 and 22 in their retracted positions away from. their digitwheels 12 and against the rear surface of the oscillated frame member 30on which the levers are pivotally mounted. The manually operated leversor actuators 28 are resiliently retained in their upper positions byindividual bent wire springs 38.

In operating the counter the actuator 28 for one of the digit wheels 12is depressed.

This movement first contacts the lower free edge of the actuator 28 witha portion of one of the levers 1 13, 20- or 22 depending upon whichactuator is depressed. Further depression of the particular actuator 23pivots the engaged lever 16, 18, 20 or 22 into its notch engagingposition. Continued depression of the actuator 28 then oscillates theframe 30 with the selected operating lever in its notch engagingposition so that the particular digit wheel 12" engaged by its operatinglever will be indexed one digit. By means of the lateral projections onthe levers 16', 18 and 20 the levers for digit wheels for higherdenominators than the wheel indexed by its actuatorand lever also willbe moved toward its notch engaging position. Depending upon the depth ofthe notch engagedby the operating lever 1.6, 18, 20 or 22 oscillated by"its actuator digit wheels 12 of higher denomination will also beindexed.

If it is desired to add ten to the previous total the actuator 28 forlever 18 is depressed. This movement advances the tens wheel one digit.11f lever 18 enters its deep notch 14 then. the hundreds wheel also willbe indexed.

Inmorder to view the total determined by the positions of the wheels 12the casing 10 is provided with spaced openings; 40 one for each wheel12.

1: claimas my invention:

1. A manual counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mountedtherein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case, and individual digitwheel engaging levers pivotally mounted on said frame, said wheelengaging levers having laterally extending portions whereby pivotalmovement of any of said levers will oscillate the levers for wheels ofhigher denomination, and individual manually operated actuators foroscillating said frame with the wheel engaging lever operated by theparticular actuator in its indexing position.

2. A manual counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mountedtherein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case, and individual digitwheel engaging levers pivotally mounted on said frame for movementtoward and from said wheels, individual light springs normally retainingsaid levers in retracted position said wheel engaging levers havinglaterally extending portions whereby pivotal movement of any of saidlevers will oscillate the levers for Wheels of higher denomination, anda manually operated actuator for each wheel engaging lever foroscillating said frame with the wheel engaging lever operated by theparticular actuator in its indexing position.

3. A manually operated counter comprising a casing, digit wheelsrotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case,and individual digit wheel on gaging levers pivotally mounted on saidframe, individual: light springs normally retaining said levers inretracted position said wheel engaging levers having laterally extendingportions overlapping the adjacent lever for the wheel of higherdenomination whereby pivotal movement of any of said levers willoscillate the levers for wheels of higher denomination, andamanuallyoperated actuator for each lever for oscillating said frame with thelever operated by the particular actuator oscillated to its indexingposition.

4. A manually operated counter comprising a casing, digit wheelsrotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally,- mounted within the case,individual digit wheel. engaging levers for each wheel pivotally mountedon saidframe, said wheel engaging levers having a portion overlappingthe free end of the lever for the adjacent wheel for higher denominationwhereby pivotal movement of. any of said levers into indexing positionwill, oscillate the levers for wheels of higher denomination, andindividual manually operated actuators for moving said. levers intowheel engaging position and also oscillating said frame with the wheelengaging lever operated by the particular actuator in its indexingposition.

5. An indexing mechanism for manually operated. counters comprising aseries of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in theirperipheries, one notch. in each Wheel being of greater depth than theothers, a

pivotally mounted frame, and individualpivotally mounted wheel engaginglevers on said frame for indexing said wheels, said levers havingprojections at their free ends for entering the notches on said digitwheels, and manually operated actuators for said wheel engaging leversadapted when depressed to first move its lever toward its digit wheeland when further depressed to swing said:

frame to effect indexing movement of its wheel.

6. An indexing mechanism for manually operated counters comprising aseries of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in theirperipheries, one notch in each wheel being of greater depth than theothers, a.

pivotally mounted frame, and pivotally mounted levers on said framemovable into wheel engaging position, said: wheel engaging levers havingprojections for entering the; notches on said digit wheels, andindividual manuallywheels having notches in their peripheries, one notchin each wheel being of greater depth than the others, a pivotallymounted frame, an individual pivotally mounted lever on said frame foreach wheel, said levers being normally resiliently retained in theirretracted position and having projections for entering the notches onsaid digit wheels, lateral extensions on said levers overlapping thelever for an adjacent wheel, and a manually operated actuator for eachof said levers adapted when depressed to first move its lever toward itsdigit wheel and when further depressed to swing said frame to effectindexing movement of its wheel.

8. An indexing mechanism for manually operated counters comprising aseries of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in theirperipheries, one notch in each wheel being of greater depth than theothers, a pivotally mounted frame, and individual pivotally mountedlevers on said frame for engaging said wheels on said frame, said levershaving projections on their free ends for entering the notches on saiddigit wheels and having lateral projections overlapping the lever forthe adjacent wheel of higher denomination, and separate manuallyoperated actuators for said levers adapted when depressed to first moveits wheel engaging lever toward its digit wheel and when furtherdepressed to swing said frame with the wheel engaging lever in itsindexing position to effect indexing movement of said wheel and wheelsof higher denomination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS325,260 Maxwell Sept. 1, 1885 2,572,784 Van Veen Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 901,473 Germany Jan. 11, 1954

